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Minnesota-born Munchkin dies; only one of the diminutive 'Wizard of Oz' stars survives

Associated Press

Posted:
01/16/2014 12:01:00 AM CST

Updated:
01/16/2014 09:34:41 PM CST

Danielle Wade, left, and Ruth Duccini at the Warner Bros. world premiere screening of "The Wizard of Oz" in IMAX 3D. Duccini, one of the original Munchkins from the 1939 movie, died Thursday in Las Vegas. She was 95. (AP Photo/Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, Eric Charbonneau)

LAS VEGAS -- Ruth Robinson Duccini, the last of the original female Munchkins from the 1939 movie "The Wizard of Oz," has died. The Minnesota native was 95.

With her death, only one actor who played one of the original 124 Munchkins in the movie remains alive.

Duccini died of natural causes in Solari Hospice Care Center in Las Vegas on Thursday.

Her death was confirmed by Stephen Cox, author of "The Munchkins of Oz." He says he learned of it from Duccini's son.

Duccini, born in Rush City, Minn., traveled to California with a troupe little people, and was cast in the MGM fantasy movie starring Judy Garland. Duccini was 4 feet tall.

Cox provided a recent statement made by Duccini about her time on the movie set.

"It was long hours and heavy costumes. We didn't have much time for ourselves. It was all new to me then, and I loved being a part of what is now a classic," she said.

Duccini met her husband while working at MGM, and the two had a son and daughter.

She worked as a "Rosie the Riveter" in Santa Monica, Calif., during World War II, using her short stature to squeeze into hard-to-reach parts of planes. She also appeared in the spoof "Under the Rainbow" starring Chevy Chase and Carrie Fisher.

In her later years, Duccini appeared at festivals and screenings celebrating "The Wizard of Oz," which also featured Grand Rapids, Minn., native Judy Garland.

The only surviving original Munchkin is Jerry Maren, 93, of Los Angeles, who portrayed a member of the Lollipop Guild.

Ruth Duccini, fifth from left, joins fellow Munchkins from "The Wizard of Oz" as they are honored Nov. 20, 2007, with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at Grauman's Chinese Theatre, site of the film's 1939 premiere, in Los Angeles. From left: Clarence Swensen, a Munchkin soldier; Jerry Maren, part of the Lollipop Guild; Mickey Carroll, the Town Crier; Karl Slover, the Main Trumpeter; Duccini, a Munchkin villager; Margaret Pelligrini, the "sleepyhead" Munchkin and Meinhardt Raabe, the coroner. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes, File)